Particle size is the most important determinant of

Particle size is the most important determinant of aerosol behavior.

Small aerosol particles smaller than 5 μm in aerodynamic size are most likely to remain airborne for indefinite periods (unless there is removal due to air currents or dilution ventilation), and to be deposited in the lower respiratory tract.

Data are accumulating that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19, is transmitted by both small and large particle aerosols.

Masking of patients can help to partly reduce infectious aerosol exposures to health-care workers, but are not a substitute for physical distancing and other infection control measures.

Aerosolisation of respiratory pathogens is highly variable, at least partly due to the log-normal distribution of infectious aerosols, consistent with so-called super-spreading.

Airborne infection isolation rooms and other infection control measures against airborne infection are indicated for virulent respiratory pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/art...4/fulltext